A fire razed the high-rise condominium building being constructed by the Gaisano Group in Cebu City last week, causing nearly P4 billion in damages.
The fire at Tower 4 of the 37-storey Grand Residences condominium complex on Friday (April 14) raged for nine hours, reaching Task Force Bravo that required the help of all fire brigades in the province.
The Cebu City Fire Office said the fourth to 35th floors of the condominium building were totally damaged by the fire.
Initial investigation by fire authorities showed the fire started from welding activities within the building. The blaze quickly spread through utility pipes to lower floors, resulting in an estimated damage of P3.9 billion.
The fire caused residents at the condominium complex’s Tower 3 to evacuate due to the thick smoke from Tower 4.
The Burea of Fire Protection said even their firefighters had a hard time keeping the flames under control as their utility ladders could not get beyond the 18th floor, and that parking levels had been carrying flammable construction materials like paints.
BFP noted that the fire should have been easily resolved if the Gaisanos already got their fire alarm and sprinkler systems — which are mandatory for high-rise buildings — in service.
Grand Residences Cebu is described as the flagship real estate development project of Grand Land Inc., a member of the Gaisano Group of Companies.
According to an article posted by Cebu Daily News on December 14, 2021, the fourth tower of Grand Residences was being developed as the serviced apartment that Grand Land was building in partnership with Dusit International.
